Popular Bollywood actor shares his travel diary with the American Bazaar
By Sharman Joshi
The pandemic has been tough on all of us. While as adults we still understand the unprecedented situation the past year and a half has thrust upon us, for kids it has been a cathartic experience.
Telling kids to shelter at home, study in front of screens and remain isolated from their friends for a prolonged period has been tough on most parents. These were my initial reasons when I thought of planning a relaxing getaway with my kids and family.
My wife Prerana and I were clear that we were looking for a safe and serene place and Maldives seemed to check all our boxes. When we heard that Maldives, the island retreat situated just next door, had re-opened its doors to the Indian market in July, it was the perfect time for the family to enjoy a relaxing vacation.
To make it fun for the kids, we decided to resort-hop while we were at the beautiful islands to give them the feel of action and thrill. The idea was that we needed a break from both the stressors of work and pandemic.
First up on our trip was Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. A hidden jewel tucked away deep in the Maldives, Hideaway offers the rare opportunity to experience true luxury and seclusion – exactly what our family wanted.
Located on Dhonakulhi Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, this five-star resort is one of the largest, with pristine, untouched, and picturesque island settings throughout.
This meant that there was much fun to be had for the whole family exploring the resort where space meets privacy. We had a lot of fun sharing glimpses of this paradise on Instagram. Our days were spent in the villa’s pool, bicycling around the island surrounded by scrumptious looking food.
We chose Lily Beach Resort & Spa as the second stop on our Maldivian tour. Lily Beach is a luxury all-inclusive 5-star resort located on Huvahendhoo Island in the South Ari Atoll, just a short 25-minute flight by seaplane from the capital Malé and Velana International Airport.
This proximity, as well as the reputation of its legendary all-inclusive plan – The Platinum Plan, make it a sought-after destination.
We had a blast with plenty of water sports for everyone, an ocean adventure with unforgettable sightings of whale sharks and manta rays, a massage day at Tamara Spa, and a healthy sampling of Lily Beach’s world dining experiences – including Tamarind, the award-winning Indian/Thai fusion restaurant that all Indian guests are raving about after visiting.
The all-inclusiveness, diverse food options, a variety of leisure and sporting activities, and world-class service from both Hideaway & Lily Beach created the perfect vacation for us. It was as close to paradise as we could get.
(Sharman Joshi is a popular Indian actor who has acted in several Bollywood hits like ‘Style’ (2001), ‘Rang De Basanti’ (2006), ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’ (2006) and ‘Golmaal Returns’ (2008). Most recently he acted in ‘Mera Fauji Calling’ (2021). He is probably most noted for his role as Raju Rastogi in the internationally acclaimed film ‘3 Idiots’ (2009), a coming-of-age comedy that became the highest grossing Indian film at that time.)
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